Harding’s Point, New Brunswick, Canada
Stay Dates: Sunday, July 27 – Sunday, August 10, 2025
Site Type: Pull-Through, Full Hookups
Introduction
Crossing into New Brunswick through the quiet Calais border crossing felt like a breath of fresh air, and Harding’s Point Campground ended up matching that energy for the full two weeks. Tucked away on a peninsula and accessed by a short ferry ride, this rustic campground sits off the beaten path in the best possible way. If you are willing to embrace the remoteness, the reward is a peaceful, affordable home base with surprisingly solid hookups and some great regional adventures within reach.
Here is our honest review of Site 12 Hill Top.
The Site
Site 12 is a pull-through at the top of a steep gravel hill, which sounds intimidating until you actually do it. A staff member guided us up and made sure we had enough room to get situated, so what looked nerve-wracking turned out to be a non-issue. Getting in and out for the rest of the stay was easy.
The site itself is not perfectly level. We did not put blocks under the tires, which we probably should have. Nothing was rolling around in a dangerous way, but a few unlocked cabinet doors did have a habit of slowly swinging open on their own. Lesson learned for next time. The site had just enough shade to stay comfortable without blocking our Starlink signal, which was a nice balance. The picnic table was included and usable, though not in the best shape. The fire ring was solid, and we appreciated that we were allowed to move it if needed.
Privacy was genuinely good. We had a neighbor on one side for a few days, but the other side stayed empty the entire stay. For a two-week trip, that kind of quiet is hard to beat.
Hookups and Utilities
The campground offers full hookups, water, sewer, and electric, and everything worked well throughout our stay. No complaints there. The hookups were in solid condition and gave us zero issues for two full weeks.
We did not locate the dump station during our stay, but we also did not need it.
Bathhouses, Laundry, and Amenities
We did not use the bathhouse, so we cannot speak to its condition.
The laundry situation works, but plan ahead. There is only one washer and one dryer in the laundry room, and you have to walk to the office to pick up a key before you can use them. Our site was about as far from the office as you can get, so each laundry run involved a bit of a hike. Pricing was $1.50 per washer load and $0.50 per 30 minutes for the dryer, which is reasonable. Just factor in the extra time if your site is far from the office.
The campground store carried a few basics and sold ice cream, which came in handy on a warm afternoon. The pool looked clean and well-maintained.
Connectivity
There is no campground WiFi, but cell service was good, which was a pleasant surprise given how remote the area feels. Using US phones, we had no real issues staying connected throughout the stay.
We ran our Starlink without any trouble from Site 12 Hill Top thanks to the partial shade that did not block our view of the sky.
Location and Getting Around
Here is the thing about Harding’s Point: you have to take a ferry to get there. And honestly, it’s fine. Two ferries run during peak daytime hours, and the wait is rarely long. During the early morning or late evening, when only one ferry is running, you may need to wait a bit, but it is part of the experience, not a dealbreaker.
When you come off the ferry on the mainland side, turn left for everything you need. There are a few gas stations, a handful of restaurants, and a grocery store that is smaller than what most US travelers are used to but stocks everything you need. One thing worth noting about the Canadian grocery stores is that the food tastes noticeably different. Not always as immediately familiar, but it feels less processed, and that is not a bad thing.
There is not much else on the peninsula side, so plan your errands accordingly. Make one good mainland run and stock up.
Our Two Weeks in New Brunswick
We mostly eased into things on arrival day, dealing with the time change into AST and getting the trailer set up. The first full day, we hopped the ferry, hit the grocery store, and picked up a pizza from Pizza Delight for dinner. It was not going to win any awards, but it filled the gap while we got settled.
The rest of the trip had a good rhythm to it. Shaun picked up firewood from the office early in the week and broke some bills for laundry. Grocery runs on the ferry became a regular routine, and we started to notice and appreciate the quality differences in the Canadian food. The produce and meat in particular stood out.
On August 1st, we had dinner at Eastbound Burgers, a local spot that sources everything locally. Shaun got a burger and some poutine, which he had been craving since crossing the border, and Emily got fried chicken and fries. The food was great for a smaller place and well worth the stop.
Shaun took a couple of motorcycle rides during the trip, including a morning Tim Hortons run for donuts and an iced capp. He also made a second solo trip to Cask & Kettle Irish Gastropub after enjoying it so much on our first visit as a couple. The first dinner there was delicious, especially the burger and poutine. The second visit caught the place buzzing with locals heading out for post-work golf, which had its own fun energy.
On August 3rd, we hiked the Chitticks Beach and Barnaby Head Trail at New River Beach Provincial Park. The views were beautiful, and the trail was a great way to spend a Sunday morning. The beach was packed enough that parking was a bit of a puzzle, but we made it work. Dinner back at Cask & Kettle after the hike sealed the deal that it would become a trip favorite.
Emily made a solo afternoon trip to Fundy later in the week, stopping in the town of Alma. Fundy is worth a visit if you are in the area, though timing matters for the tidal experience.
On our second-to-last day, we headed into downtown Saint John to explore the Area 506 Container Village. It was a cool setup with local vendors, food, and live energy. We grabbed food, ran into a former coworker who now lives in the area, picked up a shirt from Fog Off, and grabbed some maple syrup candies that were hard to resist. We also swung by the Reversing Falls, though the timing was not right and the tidal effect was not doing its thing during our visit. If you make that stop, check the tide schedule first.
The weather was exceptional the entire two weeks, which we were very grateful for. The tradeoff was a burn ban that kicked in for the last few days of the stay, so we made sure to burn the remaining firewood while we still could.
Staff and Atmosphere
The vibe here is genuinely rustic and peaceful. This is not a resort. There is no entertainment schedule or poolside DJ. But if what you are looking for is a quiet place to decompress, this campground delivers.
The front desk was friendly every time we needed anything. The hosts were active and regularly drove through the campground. The young guy monitoring the gate on weekends was particularly pleasant to deal with. Even the occasional weekend music from what appeared to be some of the long-term residents wrapped up by a reasonable hour, so it never became an issue.
Check-in was mostly smooth. The one hiccup was that the credit card machine would not read the card by tap or chip. Apple Pay worked without a problem, so it was not a major setback, but it is worth knowing in advance.
The campground was easy to find. Come off the ferry, and it’s right there in front of you.
Cost and Reservations
At $55 CAD per night with a buy-five-get-two-free deal, we were paying roughly $33 USD per night for full hookups. That is an outstanding value, and it is honestly one of the first things we tell people when this campground comes up. You can book by phone only, and a small deposit is required at the time of reservation, though ours did not appear to be charged. The process was easy enough for a phone-only booking.
Final Thoughts – Would We Stay Again?
Without hesitation, yes. The price alone would bring us back, but it is the overall peace and quiet that really sticks with you. The ferry adds a small logistical layer but never felt like a burden. The area has good food if you know where to look, and the campground itself is a relaxed, friendly place to call home for a couple of weeks.
If you are looking for an affordable, quiet base camp in Atlantic Canada with full hookups and great regional access, Harding’s Point Campground is worth the trip.
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